Catherine Davis

Location New York / South Carolina
Occupation set decorator: television & feature films; writer; teacher; aspiring professor
Website http://

About Me

I split my time between work in Manhattan (or Richmond) and maintaining my family home and garden in Columbia, South Carolina. I've worked as a set decorator in the film business for many years on feature films and for the last three years on the AMC show TURN: Washington's Spies; selected credits include Brokeback Mountain, We Own the Night, Evening, Ira and Abby, Tuck Everlasting, and Joe Gould’s Secret. Early art department credits include Lonesome Dove and Blue Velvet.

I trained with the Barthelmes, R.H.W. Dillard, Mary Robison, Jeanne Larson, and Cathryn Hankla, to each of whom I am very, very grateful. This past year I completed a doctoral degree in creative writing and English at the Center for Writers in Mississippi.

I love this community, both in that it is a community, and that there is so much good work. Too many nights I have stayed up much too late, over-excited from reading here.

Me, I'm just getting out there.

Why do you write?

Words; better: textures, rhythms, and shapes woven with them. To make use of clamor banging around in my head; okay, sometimes it's other than clamor, but insistent either way: wants out. I saw my grandmother writing from the time I can remember; as a baby I sat on her lap as she signed her books; she inspired my love of literature and presented the idea that a real person could be a writer.

So I always thought that a writer was the best thing to be.

Any favorite authors? Books?

Roberto Bolano: current thrall, devouring fast as I can.

Paul Bowles, Faulkner, Robbe-Grillet, Dos Passos, Joyce (short fiction especially), Steven Barthelme, Frederick Barthelme, Didion, Nabokov, Percy, Hopkins, Poe, Chekhov, many Ibsen, Ionesco, Edward Albee, Beckett, Jean Giradoux, Patti Smith!, many Graham Greene, John Hawkes, Chandler, Hammett, some James M. Cain, Virginia Woolf's short fiction, some John Banville, some Ian McEwan, Mary Robison, Courtney Eldridge, a couple of Kate Atkinson, William Boyd, Lily Tomlin, Margaret Atwood (I'm lying if I don't admit it), Bill Watterson, THE WASP FACTORY by Iain Banks**, THE CAT INSIDE by Burroughs,I CAPTURE THE CASTLE by Dodie Smith, MOTH SMOKE by Mohshin Hamid... so so many. That Bard who was no way human. Okay Pynchon, much as I grudge him with a suspected unacknowledged debt to Burroughs. Oh! The sadly overlooked and much forgotten wonderful William Saroyan, when he was wonderful. Will always cheer the hero whose heaven-handling flung me foot trod: Gerard Manley Hopkins. tbc.

Catherine Davis's Wall

Jen Knox – Mar 12, 2011

Catherine, Thanks so much for reading Wave.
I'm new to 52|250, but I love the site. It's such a great idea for an online journal. ~Jen

Meg Pokrass – Mar 12, 2011

C- thank you so much for your nice words about the stories. I have been such a bad girl! xoxo

Susan Tepper – Mar 02, 2011

Catherine so glad The World Will End... works for the new group and thank you so much!!

Susan Tepper – Mar 01, 2011

Catherine so glad you are enjoying What I wanted Group and send more whenever you want..
I see Rob Vaughn's post here about Paul Bowles. I have a very interesting Paul Bowles "tale" I'll tell you sometime..

James Lloyd Davis – Mar 01, 2011

I thank you, Diego thanks you. If you ever find yourself on Telephone Road, stop in to the storefront, say hello. Diego will buy you a pumpkin empanada. They are superb.

AMTL – Feb 28, 2011

Thank you, Catherine, for your comments on "Ode to a Crow" and for the group invite. Much appreciated - it kind of made my day.

Meg Tuite – Feb 27, 2011

Thank you, Catherine, for the invite into your new group! I look forward to what's ahead! Loved your complete list of writers and yes, Patti Smith!!!

Jane Hammons – Feb 26, 2011

Thank you, Catherine, for your comment on Descanso--esp the conflict.

M – Feb 13, 2011

Dear Catherine: Thank you for your kind remarks on my veggie love piece and apparently, I need to read some Tom Robbins! Happy Valentine's. - Q

Tracy Lucas – Jan 26, 2011

Found you through the penguin collective. Beautiful.

Marcus Speh – Jan 25, 2011

your photo is now up at 1000 penguins - thanks again! spread the news far and wide! >> http://bit.ly/gLoJea <<

Meg Worden – Jan 16, 2011

Catherine, Your December comments on "Do You Dream" were so very appreciated. Thank you so much for reading.
M

Susan Tepper – Jan 10, 2011

Catherine I am so thrilled you liked "idiotsky" which I had a blast wriitng. It got hate mail!!! From some nut that has left the site! Cheers & wishing you great writing in this new year, susan

Kim Conklin – Jan 10, 2011

Thanks for the wonderful comments and fave on Midnight Riders and Eat, Pray, Network, Catherine! I deeply appreciate the reads, and I'm thrilled you like my work.

Walter Bjorkman – Jan 10, 2011

Hi Catherine - thought I'd drop in to thank you for your reading of Sunglasses, which now as a result are cool pi*D. Appreciate it!

Kathy Fish – Jan 05, 2011

Hi Catherine, thanks for the super kind words and fave for "Empty"!

Roberta – Jan 04, 2011

Thank you for the comment on 'Tasted Like Apples.' I'm not good with writing about all too much sweetness, really - inevitably I want to throw something horrible in there. :)

Jules Archer – Jan 04, 2011

Catherine - thank you for the kind comment on "I Like It". Very appreciated. Cheers!

Marcus Speh – Dec 28, 2010

thanks for your comment on "le sucre brun", catherine. i loved what i read on your wall here as well as the cow piece. looking forward to reading more ... in 2011 when i've gathered some strength...

Susan Tepper – Dec 23, 2010

Catherine, I appreciate your reading "rug" over at Used Furniture and also for commenting here, so nice! I also Love Paul Bowles writing. Remind me to tell you a Bowles story--

Jane Hammons – Dec 18, 2010

Catherine, Thanks so much for your comments on Dreaming in Mink. I love for people to love Sally Macintyre. Thanks also for giving it its 10th fave!

James Lloyd Davis – Dec 16, 2010

Catherine, thank you so much for the fave and the brilliant comment on "Take two tablespoons of pity. Call me in the morning." Made my day.

Meg Pokrass – Dec 12, 2010

thank you for your so so nice comments on Tada, the name came out of a Bob Hicok poem, and the text came from a freewrite. Thank you darling!

Catherine Davis – Dec 12, 2010

Reading good work is a pleasure - the BEST. (Okay, one of the best.)

Happy for this, Susan, Sara, and Meg!

Susan Tepper – Dec 12, 2010

Catherine, I just love what you wrote about "body"-- you have made my day! hope you are having a good weekend!

Sara – Dec 12, 2010

Catherine, Thanks very much for your thoughtful note on Girl. I really appreciate you taking the time to read it, S

Meg Pokrass – Dec 10, 2010

You liked Proposal. That makes me so happy! You are!! nice to read my stories and YOU KNOW I AM NOT GOING TO HAVE A MOVIE and you are so wonderful and encouraging! xoxoxoxo

Catherine Davis – Dec 09, 2010

My pleasure, Kathy, Susan, & Quenby! Will be seeking out more of your work and look forward to reading.

M – Dec 09, 2010

Thank you so much for your kind remarks about loon, Catherine. I look forward to reading your work. Sincerely -- Q

Susan Tepper – Dec 09, 2010

Catherine thanks so much for your lovely comments on my story Waking Up. Cheers! Susan

Kathy Fish – Dec 09, 2010

Really appreciate the kind words and fave for "Daffodil" Catherine. I look forward to reading your work!

Matthew A. Hamilton – Aug 21, 2010

Thank you for joining NC Writers. Looking forward to reading your work.

Catherine Davis – Aug 15, 2010

Cool, Jenny & Robert. Thank you.

Jenny Halper – Aug 12, 2010

Paul Bowles is one of my favorites -- welcome to fictionaut!

Robert Vaughan – Aug 12, 2010

I love Paul Bowles, too, right now at 10:11 p.m. in NYC. Welcome!

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